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We need to go on a 'hell of a run', admits Blackburn Rovers boss

BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer has conceded his side will have to go on a ‘hell of a run’ if they are to snatch a play-off place.

But the performances they have produced in their last two outings gives optimistic Bowyer hope they could yet do just that.

Rovers have yet to win more than two matches in succession all season and are eight points behind sixth-placed Reading with nine games to play – the first of which comes at basement boys Millwall today (3pm).

But Bowyer saw enough in the rousing 1-1 home draw with table-topping Leicester City and the battling 3-3 draw at Watford, who had won their previous six home matches without conceding a goal, to suggest that Rovers can string a run of victories together.

“We realise now we’ve got to put a hell of a run together of back-to-back wins,” said Bowyer.

“That’s why there was so much frustration, disappointment and anger after the Watford game.

“But the squad is capable of doing it. They’ve proved in the last two games that they can go and match anybody.

“When we went 3-2 down in the 88th minute at Watford not many people would have said we would have had a chance of getting something from the game, which would have been totally unjust.

“But I’ve watched it again on the video and it was impressive – as soon as they scored we were ready.

“There was no-one lying on the floor feeling sorry for themselves, we were waiting for them to come back and take the kick-off.

“That mindset and mentality helped us getting something from the game.”

With Reading and Nottingham Forest losing, Rovers would have moved within six points of the play-offs had they been able to hold on to the lead given to them by David Dunn and Craig Conway at Watford.

Bowyer said: “It’s happened once or twice when results have gone kindly for us and we’ve not been able to seize on.

“That something we need to address but like I say the players have got confidence, belief and determination going into these big nine games.”

The last time Rovers visited the Den to take on Millwall, in April last year, they desperately needed a win to avoid being dragged closer to a second successive relegation.

And thanks to Jordan Rhodes’ winning penalty, which was awarded after Grant Hanley’s barnstorming run into the box was ended abruptly by Danny Shittu, they got one.

Bowyer, who was Rovers’ caretaker manager at the time, said: “If we hadn’t got that result, who knows, we might not have been playing in this league this year. That was the size of that win.

“We knew that was our game in hand and we knew we had to win it to get us clear of the trouble we found ourselves in.

“The lads performed magnificently in a very hostile environment that night, it was fierce.”

Comments

They needed to go on a hell of a run from the beginning of the season, but it never happened. Can't see it happening now!

They needed to go on a hell of a run from the beginning of the season, but it never happened. Can't see it happening now!A Darener

They needed to go on a hell of a run from the beginning of the season, but it never happened. Can't see it happening now!

Score: 4

dangerous dave
1:07pm Sat 29 Mar 14

stating the bloody obvious again from Mr Kean No2 - wish GB and his cohorts would go on a hell of a run themselves, far away from Ewood Park!!
OUT WITH THE COWBOYS AND INDIANS

stating the bloody obvious again from Mr Kean No2 - wish GB and his cohorts would go on a hell of a run themselves, far away from Ewood Park!!
OUT WITH THE COWBOYS AND INDIANSdangerous dave

stating the bloody obvious again from Mr Kean No2 - wish GB and his cohorts would go on a hell of a run themselves, far away from Ewood Park!!
OUT WITH THE COWBOYS AND INDIANS

Score: -10

jogalot
1:30pm Sat 29 Mar 14

He certainly talks like a Kean no2. Forever optimistic, forever unrealistic. I don't think he's learned to take it one game at a time yet, which is why the team is probably so unfocused too.

He certainly talks like a Kean no2. Forever optimistic, forever unrealistic. I don't think he's learned to take it one game at a time yet, which is why the team is probably so unfocused too.jogalot

He certainly talks like a Kean no2. Forever optimistic, forever unrealistic. I don't think he's learned to take it one game at a time yet, which is why the team is probably so unfocused too.

Score: -5

owd nick
1:39pm Sat 29 Mar 14

jogalot wrote…

He certainly talks like a Kean no2. Forever optimistic, forever unrealistic. I don't think he's learned to take it one game at a time yet, which is why the team is probably so unfocused too.

Forever optimistic? Forever unrealistic?

If, like you he said "we can't go up this season lets all go off and sulk" what sort of reaction do you think he would get?

He might be stating the bleeding obvious but at least he is being realistic.

[quote][p][bold]jogalot[/bold] wrote:
He certainly talks like a Kean no2. Forever optimistic, forever unrealistic. I don't think he's learned to take it one game at a time yet, which is why the team is probably so unfocused too.[/p][/quote]Forever optimistic? Forever unrealistic?
If, like you he said "we can't go up this season lets all go off and sulk" what sort of reaction do you think he would get?
He might be stating the bleeding obvious but at least he is being realistic.owd nick

jogalot wrote…

He certainly talks like a Kean no2. Forever optimistic, forever unrealistic. I don't think he's learned to take it one game at a time yet, which is why the team is probably so unfocused too.

Forever optimistic? Forever unrealistic?

If, like you he said "we can't go up this season lets all go off and sulk" what sort of reaction do you think he would get?

He might be stating the bleeding obvious but at least he is being realistic.

Score: 2

noddy57
2:06pm Sat 29 Mar 14

It would have to be exceptional to catch up with the pack in all honesty, but we crack on never the less,,we are Blackburn Rovers and we don,t lie down for any one,,

It would have to be exceptional to catch up with the pack in all honesty, but we crack on never the less,,we are Blackburn Rovers and we don,t lie down for any one,,noddy57

It would have to be exceptional to catch up with the pack in all honesty, but we crack on never the less,,we are Blackburn Rovers and we don,t lie down for any one,,

Score: 4

jogalot
3:11pm Sat 29 Mar 14

owd nick wrote…

jogalot wrote…

He certainly talks like a Kean no2. Forever optimistic, forever unrealistic. I don't think he's learned to take it one game at a time yet, which is why the team is probably so unfocused too.

Forever optimistic? Forever unrealistic?

If, like you he said "we can't go up this season lets all go off and sulk" what sort of reaction do you think he would get?

He might be stating the bleeding obvious but at least he is being realistic.

It's the way he talks that's forever optimistic and unrealistic. If he was a realist he would be saying, let's take one game at a time and see where it gets us. But it's all talk of top 6 and going on runs even if all the form and stats says that's highly optimistic. I still think there's a vibe around the club that says they are still a premiership side and all they have to do is turn up and eventually things will all go our way. Unfocused, unrealistic and over optimistic. :-P

[quote][p][bold]owd nick[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]jogalot[/bold] wrote:
He certainly talks like a Kean no2. Forever optimistic, forever unrealistic. I don't think he's learned to take it one game at a time yet, which is why the team is probably so unfocused too.[/p][/quote]Forever optimistic? Forever unrealistic?
If, like you he said "we can't go up this season lets all go off and sulk" what sort of reaction do you think he would get?
He might be stating the bleeding obvious but at least he is being realistic.[/p][/quote]It's the way he talks that's forever optimistic and unrealistic. If he was a realist he would be saying, let's take one game at a time and see where it gets us. But it's all talk of top 6 and going on runs even if all the form and stats says that's highly optimistic. I still think there's a vibe around the club that says they are still a premiership side and all they have to do is turn up and eventually things will all go our way. Unfocused, unrealistic and over optimistic. :-Pjogalot

owd nick wrote…

jogalot wrote…

He certainly talks like a Kean no2. Forever optimistic, forever unrealistic. I don't think he's learned to take it one game at a time yet, which is why the team is probably so unfocused too.

Forever optimistic? Forever unrealistic?

If, like you he said "we can't go up this season lets all go off and sulk" what sort of reaction do you think he would get?

He might be stating the bleeding obvious but at least he is being realistic.

It's the way he talks that's forever optimistic and unrealistic. If he was a realist he would be saying, let's take one game at a time and see where it gets us. But it's all talk of top 6 and going on runs even if all the form and stats says that's highly optimistic. I still think there's a vibe around the club that says they are still a premiership side and all they have to do is turn up and eventually things will all go our way. Unfocused, unrealistic and over optimistic. :-P

Score: 2

mark anthony
9:08pm Sat 29 Mar 14

Mr kean2 you wanna try and sit in the stands we been to hell and back more times than al pacino in the devil's advocate

Mr kean2 you wanna try and sit in the stands we been to hell and back more times than al pacino in the devil's advocatemark anthony

Mr kean2 you wanna try and sit in the stands we been to hell and back more times than al pacino in the devil's advocate

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